A new 3D printing technique has been developed to print directly into the human body.
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Researchers have succeeded in designing a new type of 3D printer, one that prints directly into the human body. Explanations with Mathilde Fontez, editor-in-chief of the magazine Epsiloon.
franceinfo: What is it about?
We now all know the principle of the 3D printer: we shape a shape from its computer drawing in volume, with great precision. Most often, these volumes are made from resins, which are solidified by light beams. This allows for prototyping of electronic components. The technique is used in medicine: implants or prostheses are printed.
Researcher Xiao Kuang and his biomedical engineering team from Duke and Caltech universities in the United States went from there to adapt the technique through layers of tissue in the human body. Thus, we can solidify a shape directly near the organs, in the vessels, avoiding having to open with a surgical procedure to intervene.
What technique is used?
Instead of a beam of light, an ultrasound beam is used here. The same ultrasounds as those of ultrasounds. It is also from this imaging method that researchers have advanced their technique: light does not pass through the body but ultrasound does.
They therefore worked to develop a bio ink, injected into the body, which solidifies under an ultrasound beam. We call it an ink sound system. And Researchers have developed a transmitter precise enough to sculpt objects with millimeter precision. This makes it possible to imagine small prostheses, in particular scaffolding to direct the reconstitution of tissues. We could also fashion small devices to release drugs, or microsurgery tools.
Because for the moment, there has been no test in real conditions?
No, the research is just starting. We are at the proof of concept stage. Tests have so far only been carried out in synthetic media that reproduce the body or on animal tissues and organs. But the researchers were able to verify the penetration of their ultrasound beam and the precision of their impression: of the order of 100 micrometers, the thickness of a hair.
In short, it works. But there is still a way to go before considering practice on humans or animals: in particular, the biocompatibility of sound inks must be guaranteed.
To go further: Sciences.org (article in English).